If youre tempted to join the collectors on the prowl for bargains, here are 10 gothic piles for sale. But beware  they may sap the life from your bank account, writes Niall Toner

It may look gothic and mysterious, but you wouldn’t really expect to come across the undead at Cloontykilla Castle. However, the place is crawling with zombies.

And they will continue to be in residence for the next week or so, while a film crew shoots scenes from Dead Meat at Roscommon’s very own Camelot. Directed by Conor McMahon, Dead Meat is the story of a city girl’s attempts to survive a zombie outbreak. The late-19th-century folly provides the perfect backdrop.

Castles can be dark and draughty, often damp and dilapidated, and tend to come with the minimum of conveniences.

These ancient edifices have spawned their very own type of breed, the castle-freak. They are eccentric and tough property owners, and Sean Simon is a prime specimen. These creatures prowl the countryside looking for old places in which to live.